FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TSCRA Special Rangers recover over $3 million in stolen livestock and equipment in 2007

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 4, 2008—Stolen livestock and ranch equipment worth more than $3 million were recovered or accounted for in 2007 by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. The Fort Worth-based producer group was founded 131 years ago to fight the theft problem.

          TSCRA currently has 28 special rangers stationed strategically throughout Texas and Oklahoma who have in-depth knowledge of the cattle industry and are trained in all facets of law enforcement. All are commissioned as Special Rangers by the Texas Department of Public Safety and/or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

          In 2007, the association’s special rangers investigated 959 cases in Texas and Oklahoma, primarily involving stray or stolen livestock. Working closely with federal, state and local law enforcement officers, the special rangers recovered or accounted for 1,404 head of cattle, 66 horses, 11 trailers, 37 saddles and 98 items of miscellaneous ranch property, which had a total market value of $3,037,014.77. The average value of property recovered or accounted for each day was $8,321.

          Offenders were given 138 years of prison, probated, deferred or suspended sentences and ordered to perform 2,845 hours of community service. In addition, the courts ordered those convicted to pay $106,962 in restitution to the victims, $27,450 in fines and $7,203 in court costs.

          The association also employs 72 market inspectors who identified 3,911,669 head of cattle sold through the 116 auction markets in Texas during 2007. The inspectors report their findings to the group’s Fort Worth headquarters, where the information is processed for computer retrieval. TSCRA distributes information on missing and stolen livestock to more than 700 law enforcement agencies nationwide.

          TSCRA Director of Law Enforcement Larry Gray encouraged all cattle producers and owners of other livestock and farm and ranch equipment to take steps to protect themselves from theft. He invited them to contact their local TSCRA Special Ranger or the Fort Worth office for theft prevention and brand information.

          Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 131-year-old trade organization whose 15,000 members manage approximately 3.7 million cattle on 96.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement services, livestock inspection, legislative and regulatory advocacy and education opportunities for its members.

TSCRA – 14 - 2008